Today we visited the Spanish Riding School at the Hoffberg Palace, which was the Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs. The Spanish Riding School is where the famous white Lipizzaner stallions are trained, and it has been in operation for over 440 years. This was another great Vienna activity. The tour covered the winter riding school (indoors), the tack room, the summer riding school (outdoors) and the stables. This was the only other activity on the ABD where whisper listening devices were used, although ironically, our guide was unable to get the whispers to work until after he had finished his introductory remarks in the winter riding school. This wouldnt have been a problem, since we were the only group in the school at the time. However, at almost the exact moment our guide started speaking, a big, tractor-like piece of equipment rolled into the winter riding school to prep the dirt floor for a later performance, and it was pretty loud. But we were still able to hear most of what our guide was saying (or, rather, shouting). After that, the whispers worked for the rest of the tour. In the stables we got a real treat, which was getting to see four- to six-week-old foals with the mares, in addition to the stallions. This wasnt really an ABD surprise so much as great luck in the timing. I believe we were the first ABD of the season to get to see the foals. Not being a horse person, I was surprised to learn that the foals are born dark and then turn white or grey. It was funny to see the young foals with salt and pepper coats. No photos were allowed in the stables, but once again, the guides managed to sneak in a few (although none of the foals).
After the Spanish Riding School, we walked around the corner to the Elmayer dance studio for waltzing lessons. Im not sure how others on the trip felt about this activity, but I could easily have skipped it. Or maybe I would have enjoyed a shorter version more. The lesson lasted about an hour and felt long. I think maybe a half hour would have been better. I personally would actually have preferred to just watch the professionals give a demonstration or performance.
After the waltz lessons, the rest of the day was on our own until the farewell dinner that evening. The first thing we did during our free time was go back to the Spanish Riding School to check out the gift shop, which we really didnt have time to browse after our tour. We ended up purchasing a number of items at the shop, including a couple of Christmas ornaments, a brass horsehead hook and some pins to supplement our lanyards.
Then we walked to the Vienna Narshmarkt in search of lunch. The guides had recommended the Naschmarkt, and it was a good recommendation. The market runs for a couple of city blocks (at least) and has both restaurants (on one side) and vendor stalls (on the other side) selling all manner of beautiful looking fruits, nuts, meats, seafood, etc. We chose an Italian restaurant for a sit-down lunch, and the pasta was really good. I definitely recommend the Narshmarkt as a place for a sit-down meal or to grab something on the go.
Since it was a beautiful day (finally!) in Vienna, we chose to walk the Ringstrasse again after lunch so we could get a better look at sights like the University of Vienna and the Votive Church that we had glimpsed in the rain from the coach the day before. Much more enjoyable than the previous day.
We had promised the kids that they could go swimming at the Ritz, so we headed back to the hotel in the late afternoon so the kids could swim and I could relax in a lounge chair, catch up on some email, etc. before dinner.
Our farewell dinner was at the Piaristenkeller restaurant, which doubles as a kind of museum, full of an eclectic mix of art and objects. Our host was quite eccentric and entertaining. I am not going to include any details about the farewell dinner or too many pictures, because I want future adventurers to have the benefit of a first impression without giving any surprises away. I will just say that the farewell dinner made for a great closing event to what had been a really wonderful trip. Happily, we did not have to return from the farewell dinner to face packing up our suitcases, as we had one more day on our own in Vienna before heading home.
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So I guess I'm not heartbroken. 
A few years ago the Lipizzaner horses summered in North Hero Vt. and we saw them every summer in their shows. They are beautiful animals. The Colonel (father of the family) would tell the story of how General Patton sent a group of army personal to take the horses and family out of the communist countries at the end of WW II. He really loved this country and Gen. Patton for saving his loves. Very moving. Those horses (well the line of horses) also were in a Disney movie to bring it full circle.
Better than our 2010 Baltic Cruise: British Pound, Norwegian Krone, Danish Krone, Swedish Krona, Russian Ruble, and the Euro for Germany. Thankfully Estonia accepted the Euros or $ or something although I'm sure I probably got some Kroon back as change.
